Door latch



5am., 30, i923.

R. G. MOORE.v V

DooR LATCH. FILED Nov. 21. 1921,

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I, y 24 2, l fm W 23 i5 6 i1 mi 4. 3 gr/U 8 l; l y v l Z fq l INVENTOR Wl/l nu( i I [7 l/ A n 6 ZZ Ala A TTORNEY Patented dan. 30, 1923.

RAYMOND G. MOORE,l OF BIRIDG-EOET, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR THE BASSICK' COMPANY,.OF BEIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION F CONNECTICUT.

noon Laren.

Application filed November 21, 1921. Serial No. 516,620.-

This invention relates to certain new andl useful improvements in door latches. The primary obj ect of the invention is to provide a simple and e'ective construction whereby the operation of the door tends toforce the 4 door firmly against its seat so as to prevent rattling. The improved device is particularly adapted for use as an automobile-door latch but may be used to advantage in connection with such doors as refrigerator doors in which itis particularly desirable to have a tight closure and to doors generally, such for example as thel doors of' buildings in which the wind is likely to cause rattling.

l. accomplishthe desired purpose by the use of a sliding bolt mounted to slide forwardly into the striker recess, when the door is closed, at an angle to a surface within the recess against which a surface of the outer end portion of the bolt will engage. As this surface of the bolt slides into engagement with the interior surface of the recess and moves somewhat over the same, the oppositer side of the bolt willpress the door firmly against its seat, by a simple camming action. Other 'objects of the invention consist in the provision of improved combinations of parts and construction of elements, all as will appear more fully hereinafter in the following specification and be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

ln order that a clearer understanding of the invention may be had attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application and illustrating by way of example one formof'the invention. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side `elevation of a latch con-- struction embodying the invention;

Fig. 2is .a horizontal section taken lon line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing the latch bolt whenthe latter is .just beginning to enter the striker recess;

p Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the latch bolt extended further into the recess;

Fig. 4; is a similar view showing the latch bolt fully projected'into the striker recess so as to force the door into firm engagement with its seat, and

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5'- 5 of Fi 1. v

eferring to the drawings, l have illus? trated thebolt as mounted Within a usual form of bolt chamber, it being understood that. such construction is not essential, but only that some suitable form of guiding means be used whereby the bolt will be guided for slid-ing movement forward and back atl a .desired angle. The latchl casing,

or plate 1 is shown as provided withthe' operating hand lever 2 pivoted to plate 1 by means of hub 3, whichmay be provided with a square opening to receive the shank of an operating handle or knob' (not shown). Le.

ver 2 is shownas urged forward by means 'of a spring l which bears thereon, this spring being secured to the casing in anyl convenient manner as by means of the struck-uptongues 5, 5, bent over the tail portion Aof the spring to clamp the same to the plate.

A bolt chamber or guiding means furthe bolt is provided, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, by depressing a portion of the plate l to form a slideway or l runway 6 which extends at an'acute angle to the surface 7 of the door 8 to which the maln ortion of plate 1 is illustrated as secured. n the structure shown, runway 6 also extends at an inclination to the front edge 71 of the door. The bolt lchamber 9 vis shown as completed by a plate 10 which extends forwardly in parallel relation to the runway 6, a suitable inclined cut-out being provided within the body of the doorv to receive the plate 10. The' bolt chamber, in the embodiment of the' invention illustrated, is. thus provided by forming an inclined' runway partly within the body of the door and aI suitable inclination for accomplishing the purpose referred. to.- 0 l The-bolt 11 is slidably mounted within the the door at" MNB v.chamber thus provided, the bolt being illus-vf tratadas having =an enlarged rear portion 12 and a forward portion or nose 13, bothI i of which portions are adaptd to slidingly fit within the bolt chamber. The bolt is provided with ay portion 111 extending between the front and rear portions 13 and 12, of

less width than the portions 13 and 12, so as to provide a space 14 in which the hand lever 2 may operate. This hand lever extends through slots in the walls of the bolt cham- -oer so as to extend through the chamber forwardly of the rear enlargement 12. The4 of the bolt.

I have illustrated the door j amb 18 as provided with the usualv striker plate '19, the jamb having a keeper recess 2O into which the forward end of the bolt will extend when the door is closed. A portion of the striker plate'19 is bent to extend into the recess to form a bearing plate 21 extending along one interior llateral surface of the recess. The door jamb is also provided with a contact plate or stop 22, against which the door will seat when closed, this plate providing asurface which is oppositely dis osed in relation to the bearing plate 21. ne edge of the nose 13 of the bolt is provided with a beveled face 23.

It is believed that the operation of the device will now be clear. When the door is closed the beveled surface of the nose of the bolt will ride over the striker plate 19, the bolt being retracted into its compartment against the pressure of spring 15', until the bolt is in alignment with recess 20. Spring 15 will then press the bolt into the .keeper recess, the bolt sliding forward along a path which is parallel to the surfaces indicated at 6 and 10. These surfaces are inclined, preferably at a comparatively small acute angle, to the main body portion of the plate 1 and similarly to the bearing plate 21 within the keeper recess. Accordingly as the bolt moves forward a surface of the bolt will slide into engagement with the bearing plate 2l within the keeper recess.

Preferably the nose of the bolt is provided with a lateral surface 24 which is approximately parallel to the surface of bearing plate 21. When the nose of the bolt first nnters the keeper recess this surface 24 of the bolt will-be' a slight distance away from plate 21, as is shown in Fig. 2. Upon a slight further movement of the bolt, surface 24 of the bolt will come into engagement with plate 21, as is indicated in F ig. 3. Upon a further movement ofthe bolt under the force'of spring 15, surface 24 of the bolt will slide somewhat along plate 21, this action resulting in forcing the bolt and the surface- 6 upon which it rides laterally towards the seating surface 22 so that the door will firmly seat againstthe seating member 22.

This final position of the bolt is indicated against its seat as to prevent rattling of the doorin ope-ration. At the same time the pressure is readily released by a slight backward movement of the hand lever 2 so that operation of the device will be easy.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited strictly to the details of construction described but is as broad as is indicated by the accompanying claims.

1. In a door latch, the combination of a door j amb having a striker having a lateral surface, an abutment against which the door seats when closed, a door having a plate thereon extending at an angle to Said lateral surface, when the door is closed, a bolt slidably mounted on said plate, and means for operating said bolt to project the same at an angle to said lateral surface, to force the outer end of the bolt against said surface, and thereby cause the bolt to press the door firmly against its said seating abutment, said plate and bolt being constructed to cause the bolt to travel as a whole at an angle to said lateral surface throughout its entirev movement of projection.

2. In a door latch, the combination of a striker on a door jamb, said striker having a lateral surface, and an abutment against which the door seats when closed, a door having a plate thereon extending at an angle to said lateral surface, when the door is closed, a bolt slidably mounted on said plate, to move parallel thereto throughout its whole length and for its entire movement, means vfor retracting said bolt, and spring means for projecting said bolt to press the outerend of the same against and over said lateral surface, and thereby cause the bolt to press the door firmly against its said seating abutment.

3. In a. door latch, the combination of a plate adapted to be secured to a door, having a portion adapted to extend parallel to a lateral surface of the ydoor and a portion ex-Y tending at an acute angle to said first portion, forming a bolt runway, a bolt slidable over said runway, means for guiding the bolt, and means for opera-ting the bolt.

4. ln a door latch, the conibination of a plate adapted to be secured to a door, having a portion forming a bolt runway adapted to extend at an acute angle to a lateral surface of the door and at an obtuse angle to the forward edge of the door, and portions adapted to be secured to the door so as to hold the runway portion at the desired angle,.a bolt slidable over said runway, and means for guiding and operating said bolt. 10 Signed at Bridgeport in the county ot' l Fairfield and vState of Connecticut this 18th day of November A. D. 1921.

'RAYMOND G. MOORE. 

